Access to physician services continues to improve for people all across Saskatchewan. A new family doctor will be practising in Canora, thanks to the most recent results of the January 2016 Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) intake.
Dr. Seema Ahmed will join many other International Medical Graduate (IMG) colleagues already practising in Saskatchewan. SIPPA is a unique made-in-Saskatchewan program that assesses IMGs on their education and clinical ability before allowing them to practise medicine. Since the program began in 2011, more than 190 new family physicians have completed the assessment and are currently practising in the province.
鈥淧eople in communities across the province are benefitting from better access to doctors as a result of successes in the SIPPA program,鈥� Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. 鈥淭his program, along with other recruitment incentives initiated by our government, has increased the number of doctors practising in the province by nearly 650 more than there were nine years ago.鈥�
In addition, a total of 10 new international medical graduates from the May intake of SIPPA are now completing their field assessments. If successful, these family physicians will begin practising across the province this summer. This includes a physician recruited to Preeceville who, if successful, will begin practising this fall.
鈥淭he program is moving in a positive direction and I truly believe that we are helping to create a sustainable physician workforce that we can be proud of for the people of Saskatchewan,鈥� SIPPA Medical Director for the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan Dr. Jon Witt said. 鈥淲e continue to improve the program, with recent additions such as a simulation session for candidates that鈥檚 run by STARS and an Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support course.鈥�
鈥渟askdocs works closely with each one of the SIPPA candidates from each iteration from the day they arrive to when they begin to practise medicine,鈥漵askdocs CEO Dr. Dennis Kendel said. 鈥淚t is great to see them make it through to the next stage of their career and reassuring to know that they have made it through this rigorous program and are delivering quality, team-based care to the people of this province.鈥�
In addition to attracting IMGs, Saskatchewan is making progress in keeping more locally-trained family medicine graduates in the province. The retention rate of family medicine graduates trained at the University of Saskatchewan has jumped by 17 per cent over the past three years 鈥� from 58 per cent to 75 per cent.
Physicians interested in working in Saskatchewan are encouraged to contact saskdocs directly at [email protected] or call toll-free (in North America) 1-888-415-3627 or 306-933-5000.
